CHAPTER LIII

OF A SAYING OF CÆSAR

F we shall sometimes ammuse our selves and consider our estate, and the
time we spend in controling others, and to know the things that are
without
us; would we but emploie the same in sounding our selves throughly, we
should easily perceive how all this our contexture is built of weake
and
decaying peaces. Is it not an especiall testimonie of imperfection that
we cannot settle our contentment on any one thing, and that even of our
owne desire and imagination it is beyond our power to chuse what we
stand
in need of? Whereof, the disputation that hath ever beene amongst
Philosophers
beareth sufficient witnes, to finde out the chief felicitie or summum
bonum of man, and which yet doth and shall eternally last without
resolution
or agreement.

While that is absent
which
we wish, the restThat seemes to passe, when ought
else is addrest,That we desire, with equall
thirst
opprest,

Whatsoever it
be
that falleth unto our knowledge and jovissance, we finde it doth not
satisfie
us, and we still follow and gape after future, uncertaine, and unknowne
things, because the present and knowne please us not, and doe not
satisfie
us. Not (as I thinke) because they have not sufficiently wherewith to
satiate
and please us, but the reason is that we apprehend and seize on them
with
an unruly, disordered, and diseased taste and hold-fast.

For when the wiseman
saw,
that all almost,That use requires, for men
prepared
was,That men enriches, honors,
praises
boast,In good report of children
others
passe,Yet none at home did beare lesse
pensive heart,But that the minde was forst to
serve complaintHe knew, that fault the vessell
did empart,That all was marr'd within by
vessels
taint,Whatever good was wrought by any
art.

Our appetite is
irresolute
and uncertaine; it can neither hold nor enjoy any thing handsomly and
after
a good fashion. Man supposing it is the vice and fault of things he
possesseth,
feedeth and filleth himselfe with other things, which he neither
knoweth
nor hath understanding of, whereto he applyeth both his desires and
hopes,
and taketh them as an honour and reverence to himselfe; as saith Cæsar,
Communi fit vitio naturæ, ut invisis, latitantibus atque
incognitis
rebus magis confidamus vehementiusque exterreamur: It hapneth by the
common
fault of nature that both wee are more confident and more terrified by
things unseene, things hidden and unknowne.